Switch point protector



April 16, 1940. c, M, APLES 2,197,013

SWITCH POINT PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 23, 1939 I INVENTOR 1 l7 ATTORNE\S Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 6 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway switches.

An important object of my invention is to provide means supplementing the usual switch throwing mechanism, for the purpose of locking the switch point against the main railwhen the switch is closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a supplementary switch lock.- that is automatic in its closing and locking action.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a supplementary switch lock that is adaptable to all sizes and weights of stock rails.

Yet' an'o'ther'object of my invention is to pro a5 Figure'l is aplan View of my device, showing its association with a conventional railway track, switch points and switch.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,'sho-wing the rail and 39 switch point in a closed position, and with my device in locked engagement therewith.

.Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing my device in the open position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but" 35 showing the rail and switch point in the open position. v

Figure 5 is a plan view of my device, and Figure 6 is an end elevation thereof. In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of 4,0 illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I it designates a pair of railway railsmounted upon the ties II some of which are extended at one end thereof as shown at I2 to support the conventional switch opening 45 mechanism I3. The ends of the switch points are shown at I4 and are of the usual construction.

My device comprises a substantially rectangular latch plate I5 adapted to extend underneath the rail I0 and with the outer end It 50 thereof terminating in an upwardly disposed flange II adapted to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer longitudinal edge of the rail Ill. A leaf spring I8 is formed with a horizontally disposed end I9 and a vertically dis- 88 posed end 20 which integrally connects to the arms 28 and,2'9;

(or; 246-448) v 1 horizontally disposed end 19 by an elevated horizontal middle portion 21 and angularly disposed portion 2!; The bolt 22 is received/within an elongated slot 23 provided in the latch plate i5 so that the leaf spring I8 may be longitudinally 6 adjustable thereon. The vertically disposed portion 26 of the leaf spring is bolted or otherwise secured to the switch point I4. Both the leaf spring I8 and the latch plate are resilientin 7 their action to withstand the Vibrations and 10 stresses to which they will be subjected at frequent intervals due to the passing of trains on the rails Iii, however, the combined resilient action is suiiiciently great to securely hold the rail y and switch point in locked engagement. The end 18 It. of the latch plate is formed with an inwardly extending slot 23, and securely fastened to the underside thereof is an inverted U-shaped bracket 25 which terminates at its open end in horizontally disposed extremities 2t welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the plate I5. Fulcr'umed in the bracketf' is a lever member 27' which is formed with right'angularly disposed The arm' 29 is adapted to extendiangularly above the base of the rail It and 25 terminates in a flared foot pedal 39. The end I of the arm 28, disposed at right angles thereto,

I the main rail when the switch is closed, and

that a sharp flanged wheel may readily spread the switch with disastrous results. My device is adapted to prevent this from occurring by securely fastening the leaf spring I8 on the plate I5 in the properly adjusted position and with the 0 vertically disposed end of the latch plate I5 in close frictional engagement with the longitudinal edge of the rail Hi.

Normally a switchman coming to the switch stand I3 for the purpose of opening the switch will first place his foot on the pedal 3a to depress the same which will cause the angularly disposed arm 28 to bear against the underside of therail I0 and to disengage the flange I! from the edge of the rail I0. He can then open the switch by 5 means of the switch stand and its appurtenances.

As long as the switch stand is open the supplementary catch is in a non-locking position as shown in Figure 4, however, as soon as the switch is closed, the flange ll of the latch plate I5 will shown in Figure 2, thereby securing the switch point 14 against the rail II].

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A railway switch point lock comprising a latch plate extending under the rail and terminating in a vertically disposed flange which is formed with an inwardly extending slot, said flange being adapted to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer edge of the rail; a companion element having one end adjustably secured to the said latch plate and terminating at its opposite end in a vertically disposed portion fastened to the switch point; an inverted U- shaped bracket secured to the said latch plate on either side of the said slot; and a foot lever fulcrumed in the said bracket and including a free end extending beyond the outer edge of the rail and a portion formed at right angles thereto extending through the said slot and engaging the rail.

2. A railway switch point lock comprising a latch plate extending under the rail and terminating in a vertically disposed flange having an inwardly extending slot, said flange adapted to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer edge of the rail; a resilient spring member longitudinally adjustable on the latch plate and secured to the said switch point; and a foot lever pivoted to the said latch plate and including an arm extending beyond the edge of the rail and a portion formed at right angles thereto extending through the said slot and engaging the bottom of the rail.

3. A railway switch point lock comprising a latch plate adapted to extend below and to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer edge of the rail, a leaf spring member fastened to the automatically move into the locking position, as

said latch plate and to the said switch point, and a foot lever pivoted to the said latch plate and adapted to engage the bottom of the rail to release the portion of the said latch plate abuttingly engaged therewith.

4. A railway switch point lock comprising a latch plate adapted to extend below and to be said rail and terminating in a vertically disposed flange adapted to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer longitudinal edge of the rail,

a holding bracket having one end longitudinally adjustably secured to the latch plate and with its other end thereof secured to the said switch point, a lever pivoted to the said latch plate and including a foot receiving portion and lever arm disposed at right angles thereto adapted to en:

gage the underside of the rail and to disengage the vertically disposed flange portion of the said.

latch plate.

6. In combination with a railway rail and switch point, a locking member including a portion adapted to extend under the rail and terminating in a vertically disposed flange adapted to be positioned in abutting relation with the outer longitudinal edge of the rail, and a portion adapted to be secured to the said switch point to hold the said rail and switch point normally closed; and a lever pivoted to the said locking member and including a foot'receiving endand a portion formed at right angles thereto adapted to engage the underside of the said rail to dis-.- engage the vertically disposed flange of the said locking member therefrom.

CHARLES M. STAPLES. 

